YouTube launches its own streaming TV service

Today Google has announced YouTube TV, its own streaming TV service in the US. The offering will mix live-streams of broadcast and cable television programming with the wealth of online video found on YouTube.

The service provides the following for $35 per month:

Availability – Unlike most new services, which tend to be US-based, YouTube is even more limited: When it launches “soon,” it will be available only “in the largest U.S. markets” at first, and will then “quickly expand to cover more cities across the country.” Visit the YouTube TV website to sign-up to be notified when the service is available in your area.

Live TV streaming from numerous (US-based) networks – ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN have all signed up, as have dozens of popular cable networks (USA, FX, The Disney Channel, Sprout, E!, and others) and regional sports networks like Fox Sports Networks and Comcast SportsNet.

Live TV streaming from additional premium channels – You can also pay extra for additional premium channels like Showtime and Fox Soccer Plus

Unlimited cloud-based Digital Video Recording (DVR) – Google isn’t putting a cap on what you can record, because it’s all in the cloud. “Your cloud DVR can record as many shows as you want, simultaneously, without using precious data or space on your phone and we’ll store each of your recordings for nine months,” the firm says.

Multi-screen access – YouTube TV will work on any screen: Your HDTV, your smartphone, your tablet, or your PC. “You can easily stream to your TV with a Google Chromecast or Chromecast built-in TV,” Google notes. “YouTube TV works on both Android and iOS. And your cloud DVR goes with you, so you can stream your recordings on any device, whenever and wherever you want.”

Original content – YouTube is offering original content through YouTube Red Originals, which you get for free as part of your YouTube TV subscription.

Six accounts – A YouTube TV membership comes with six separate accounts, each with its own unique recommendations and personal DVR with no storage limits. “You can watch up to three concurrent streams at a time,” Google says.